Cheap 8mm Mauser?

[firestar]

I have been seeing alot of sub $100 Mausers on the market and I was wondering what you guys thought of the cheaper ones.

I have a Turk 1938 in 8mm so I can use that for comparison. What about the Yugo M48 ($90) and the Czech Model 1924 ($60)? Which is better? I like the idea of a shorter Mauser than the Turk.

 

[GD]

I have found the VZ-24, M48, and Russian captured K98k to be all great, shorter barreled rifles. They are all reasonable accurate and full of history. My most accurate is the VZ-24. It did well in getting me a deer last year.

 

[Jim K]

The VZ-24's I have seen have been well used, but still about the smoothest Mauser action ever made. For the price they are going for, they are darn good and an affordable base on which to build a sporter.

The Yugo M48 is not a standard Mauser action (it is 1/4 inch or so shorter than the K.98k or VZ-24 action), which can affect the purchase of stocks, scope mounts and the like. Many are for sale brand new for around $100. Don't fall for slick advertisements selling them at over double that, saying that they are WWII German K.98k's and have historical value; not WWII, not German, not K.98k, not historical.

They are nice rifles though, and worth the price, but not as slick or nicely made as the VZ-24's were.

Jim

 

[twoblink]

I bought my K98 Mauser for $215. New GI Barrel, in ... 308!! Furniture got a new coat job too.. Accurate in Runt's hands but not mine; and so that means the rifle is accurate, but I'm not...

I love the 308 over the 8mm, for logistics especially because I own an M1A. Ballistics, 8mm is better, but nothing I'm going to shootin North America will know the difference...

That said, look to maybe spend a little more $$$ and see if you can't find an Israeli or Spanish Mauser that's in 308. The cost difference in ammo between surplus 308 vs. 8mm will pay for the difference quickly..